Input device and vehicle including the same, and method of controlling input device

Abstract

An input device provides an improved feeling of operation to a user and allows the user to recognize an operation of a handle by providing haptic feedback by limiting a direction of movement of the handle of the input device provided in a vehicle according to a control item, applying a reaction force to the handle, or generating a vibration. The input device includes the handle that is movable in a first direction and a second direction and a motor that is configured to generate force related to a movement of the handle. A driver is configured to operate the motor. A controller operates the driver to limit a moving direction of the handle to the first direction or the second direction according to a control item controlled by the movement of the handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An input device, comprising:
 a handle configured to be movable in a first direction and a second direction; 
 a motor configured to generate force related to a movement of the handle; 
 a driver configured to operate the motor; 
 a first detector configured to detect a touch on the handle; and 
 a controller configured to receive information regarding a control item among a plurality of control items controlled by a vehicle and to operate the driver to limit a moving direction of the handle to the first direction or the second direction based on the received information, 
 wherein the controller is configured to activate the input device in response to detecting the touch on the handle, 
 wherein the handle is configured to receive a selection of one of a plurality of sub-control items for the control item regarding the received information, 
 wherein the controller is configured to transmit a signal related to the selection of one of a plurality of sub-control items, based on the movement of the handle along the first direction or the second direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The input device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor includes:
 a first servo motor configured to provide force for restraining the movement of the handle in the first direction; and 
 a second servo motor configured to provide force for restraining the movement of the handle in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       3. The input device according to  claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the control item matches the movement in the first direction, the controller is configured to operate the driver to enable the movement of the handle in the first direction and restrain the movement of the handle in the second direction. 
     
     
       4. The input device according to  claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the control item matches the movement in the second direction, the controller is configured to operate the driver to enable the movement of the handle in the second direction and restrain the movement of the handle in the first direction. 
     
     
       5. The input device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive information regarding the control item in a graphical user interface of a vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The input device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first rail configured to guide the movement of the handle in the first direction; and 
 a second rail configured to guide the movement of the handle in the second direction, 
 wherein the handle is configured to move in the first direction along the first rail and move in the second direction along the second rail. 
 
     
     
       7. The input device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to match and store a haptic pattern for each control item, and to operate the driver to output a haptic feedback to the handle according to the haptic pattern matched to the input control item in response to receiving information regarding the control item from the outside. 
     
     
       8. The input device according to  claim 7 , wherein the haptic pattern is defined by at least one of the moving direction of the handle, the number of the control items in graphical user interfaces displayed on a display, and an intensity of the haptic feedback. 
     
     
       9. The input device according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the driver to generate a force applied in a direction opposite to a direction in which the handle moves by the user to output the haptic feedback to the handle. 
     
     
       10. The input device according to  claim 9 , wherein the graphical user interface displayed on the display includes a first graphical user interface and a second graphical user interface displayed adjacent to each other. 
     
     
       11. The input device according to  claim 10 , wherein, in response to the handle being moved from a position corresponding to the first graphical user interface to a position corresponding to the second graphical user interface, the controller is configured to operate the driver to increase a magnitude of the force applied in the direction opposite to the direction in which the handle moves. 
     
     
       12. The input device according to  claim 11 , wherein, in response to the handle being moved to a position corresponding to the second graphical user interface, the controller is configured to operate the driver to decrease the magnitude of the force applied in the opposite direction of the moving direction. 
     
     
       13. The input device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second detector configured to detect a force applied to the handle in a third direction; and 
 a vibration generator configured to generate vibration and provide the vibration to the handle. 
 
     
     
       14. The input device according to  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the vibration generator to generate the vibration in response to detecting the force applied to the handle in the third direction. 
     
     
       15. A vehicle, comprising:
 an input device including a handle movable in a first direction and a second direction, a motor configured to generate force related to a movement of the handle, a driver configured to operate the motor, and an input device controller configured to operate the driver to limit a moving direction of the handle to the first direction or the second direction based on a control item controlled by the movement of the handle; 
 a vehicle controller configured to transmit information regarding the control item to the input device; and 
 a display configured to display a plurality of graphical user interfaces respectively corresponding to a plurality of sub-control items for the control item. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle according to  claim 15 , wherein the input device controller is configured to match and store a haptic pattern for each control item, and to operate the driver to output a haptic feedback to the handle according to the haptic pattern matched to the input control item in response to receiving information regarding the control item from the vehicle controller. 
     
     
       17. The vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the haptic pattern is defined by at least one of the moving direction of the handle, the number of the control items in graphical user interfaces displayed on a display, and an intensity of the haptic feedback. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle according to  claim 17 , wherein the input device controller is configured to operate the driver to generate a force applied in a direction opposite to a direction in which the handle moves by the user to output the haptic feedback to the handle. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle according to  claim 18 , wherein the graphical user interface displayed on the display includes a first graphical user interface and a second graphical user interface displayed adjacent to each other. 
     
     
       20. The vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein, in response to the handle being moved from a position corresponding to the first graphical user interface to a position corresponding to the second graphical user interface, the input device controller is configured to operate the driver to increase a magnitude of the force applied in the direction opposite to the direction in which the handle moves. 
     
     
       21. The vehicle according to  claim 20 , wherein, in response to the handle being moved to a position corresponding to the second graphical user interface, the input device controller is configured to operate the driver to decrease the magnitude of the force applied in the opposite direction of the moving direction. 
     
     
       22. The vehicle according to  claim 18 , wherein the display is configured to highlight and display a graphic user interface corresponding to the position of the handle. 
     
     
       23. A method of controlling an input device, the input device including a handle movable in a first direction and a second direction, a motor configured to generate force related to a movement of the handle, and a driver configured to operate the motor, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a first detector, a touch on the handle using a sensor; 
 activating, by the controller, the input device in response to detecting the touch on the handle 
 receiving, by a controller, a control item among a plurality of control items selected by the user, a plurality of control items being controlled by a vehicle; 
 in response to determining that the control item matches the movement in the first direction, limiting, by the controller, the movement of the handle to the first direction; 
 in response to determining that the control item matches the movement in the second direction, limiting, by the controller, the movement of the handle to the second direction; 
 receiving, by the handle, a selection of one of a plurality of sub-control items for the control item; 
 transmitting, by the controller, a signal related to the selection of one of a plurality of sub-control items, based on the movement of the handle along the first direction or the second direction. 
 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 operating, by the controller, the driver to output a haptic feedback to the handle according to a haptic pattern matched to the received control item. 
 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the operating of the driver includes:
 operating, by the controller, the driver to generate a force applied in a direction opposite to a direction in which the handle moves by the user to output the haptic feedback to the handle. 
 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the operating of the driver includes:
 adjusting, by the controller, a magnitude of the force applied in the opposite direction to the direction in which the handle moves according to the position of the handle. 
 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 detecting, by a second detector, a force applied in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; and 
 generating, by a vibration generator, a vibration in the handle in response to detecting the force applied in the third direction. 
 
     
     
       28. An input device, comprising:
 a handle configured to be movable in a first direction and a second direction; 
 a motor configured to generate force related to a movement of the handle; 
 a driver configured to operate the motor; and 
 a controller configured to receive information regarding a control item among a plurality of control items controlled by a vehicle and to operate the driver to limit a moving direction of the handle to the first direction or the second direction based on the received information, 
 wherein the controller is configured to match and store a haptic pattern for each control item, and to operate the driver to output a haptic feedback to the handle according to the haptic pattern matched to the input control item in response to receiving information regarding the control item, 
 wherein the haptic pattern is defined by at least one of the moving direction of the handle, the number of the control items in graphical user interfaces displayed on a display, and an intensity of the haptic feedback, 
 wherein the controller is configured to operate the driver to generate a force applied in a direction opposite to a direction in which the handle moves by the user to output the haptic feedback to the handle, 
 wherein the graphical user interface displayed on the display includes a first graphical user interface and a second graphical user interface displayed adjacent to each other, 
 wherein, in response to the handle being moved from a position corresponding to the first graphical user interface to a position corresponding to the second graphical user interface, the controller is configured to operate the driver to increase a magnitude of the force applied in the direction opposite to the direction in which the handle moves. 
 
     
     
       29. The input device according to  claim 28 , wherein, in response to the handle being moved to a position corresponding to the second graphical user interface, the controller is configured to operate the driver to decrease the magnitude of the force applied in the opposite direction of the moving direction. 
     
     
       30. An input device, comprising:
 a handle configured to be movable in a first direction and a second direction; 
 a motor configured to generate force related to a movement of the handle; 
 a driver configured to operate the motor; 
 a second detector configured to detect a force applied to the handle in a third direction; 
 a vibration generator configured to generate vibration and provide the vibration to the handle; and 
 a controller configured to receive information regarding a control item among a plurality of control items controlled by a vehicle and to operate the driver to limit a moving direction of the handle to the first direction or the second direction based on the received information; 
 wherein the handle is configured to receive a selection of one of a plurality of sub-control items for the control item regarding the received information, 
 wherein the controller is configured to transmit a signal related to the selection of one of a plurality of sub-control items, based on the movement of the handle along the first direction or the second direction. 
 
     
     
       31. The input device according to  claim 30 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the vibration generator to generate the vibration in response to detecting the force applied to the handle in the third direction.